Letters to the editor for Sunday, September 8, 2013

When the insurrection started in Syria, there was an opportunity to dispose of Assad and replace him with a democratic government. President Obama called for Assad to resign and said he must go, but did nothing to help the rebels. Now 30 months and 100,000 deaths later, the rebels have been infiltrated by jihadists.

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recordonline.com

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Posted Sep. 8, 2013 at 2:00 AM

Posted Sep. 8, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

When the insurrection started in Syria, there was an opportunity to dispose of Assad and replace him with a democratic government. President Obama called for Assad to resign and said he must go, but did nothing to help the rebels. Now 30 months and 100,000 deaths later, the rebels have been infiltrated by jihadists.

A year ago, Obama drew a line in the sand, saying the United States would not tolerate the use of weapons of mass destruction. Assad ignored him and has used them at least twice. The president let his mouth write a check he doesn't want to cash, so now he'll do something minimal. The only effect will be to infuriate both sides, Assad for us attacking him and the rebels for us doing so little to help.

By waiting so long, there are no good choices. We can only hope that whatever he does, it doesn't expand the war to Syria's neighbors and embolden other nations to conclude there are no real consequences.

John Habersberger

New Paltz

A recent article referenced on the Times Herald-Record's front page announced that Obamacare was going to reduce our insurance premiums by up to 50 percent.

Near the end of the article, the Record injected one very large caveat, and, perhaps, the more worthy headline. Specifically, that "a lot of details are still unknown: co-pays, deductibles, networks of providers, and the like."

Given the fact that Obamacare exceeded original cost expectations by more than 100 percent, why shouldn't we expect those presently unknown costs associated with co-pays, deductibles, network providers and the like to far outweigh any projected savings touted in the headlines as premium cuts?

It's widely known by publishers that most readers have an attention span of less than 200 words per article. It is for that reason that journalists cunningly interject these or any other onerous, liberal contingencies in the waning parts of any article. Subjective and subversive — further abuse of journalistic authority.

Perhaps if the Record really wanted to discover the true impact of Obamacare on the economy, reporters would poll local businesses as to the true reason for layoffs and cutting of one's hours.

But then, business owners would have to speak anonymously, for the IRS has yet to be held accountable for its biased actions toward organizations critical of Obama's liberal methodology. Obama needed to reveal the IRS's misdeeds to quell any freedom of factual speech.

Control and censor the information, and any election becomes predestined — a truly sinister, albeit unwritten mantra.

Steven P. Clum

Montgomery

More than 100,000 dead in Syria. Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam all failed. Our government is dysfunctional and yet we believe we have the right to intervene where we clearly are not wanted.

Chemical weapons after 100,000 dead. The U.N. doesn't support a strike against Syria, nor does the Arab League. We all know it's unspeakable horror to use chemical weapons, but if they are not being released over the United States, it is not our fight. None of the Arab countries speak out, so why do we believe we have to?

The only courageous move that Obama can make is to just say no to a strike of any kind, especially a "limited" one. If not saddled with wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (not over), he would have acted earlier. This obscenity to the planet needs to be fought with whatever means possible — just he knows we're all tired of war.

Obama, whatever he decides, will take a hit and he knows it. Let's just hope he is not worried about his legacy and knows the right position is to do nothing and leave it up to the Arab world.